Fergie: Rangers have far to go
SIR Alex Ferguson has told Rangers to forget about taking the title from Celtic a year from now if they stand by their current squad. Mark Warburton’s new-look side have hit the ground running this term and sit top of the Championship, having scored 17 goals in four competitive matches. The ex-Brentford manager has reinvigorated the club by drafting in the likes of Martyn Waghorn, Andy Halliday and James Tavernier. But Ferguson (left) believes no one at Ibrox should delude themselves about the level at which their progress is being made. And he says that, in the event Rangers lift the Championship title come May, only serious investment from the boardroom
will give Warburton any hope of usurping Celtic at the first time of asking. ‘I would imagine that there is a team to get you out of that division, but there is a team to challenge for the Premiership,’ said Ferguson. ‘It’s a stepping stone. ‘Obviously, whatever they can achieve at the moment can only get them into the Premiership. ‘Being in the Premiership will be a different matter altogether. I’m sure the Rangers board will recognise the need to invest and make sure they can challenge Celtic and possibly win the title.’ Ferguson has been impressed with Warburton’s start to life in Glasgow. Yet he feels the volume of criticism levelled at Ally McCoist was unwarranted. ‘I don’t know Mark Warburton but he came with a great resume from his job at Brentford where he did a fantastic job,’ he added. ‘He’s got David Weir, who has experience of being at Rangers. I think that’s a good combination. They’ve had a fantastic start. ‘A lot of criticism points towards Ally McCoist, but I thought Ally McCoist did a fantastic job under
undue pressure that no one — unless they have been in that position — could know exactly how hard it was. ‘I’ve no criticism of Ally McCoist, but I am pleased Rangers are looking to step forward from the bad experiences of the past few years.’ Meanwhile, Rangers are closing in on the loan signing of Arsenal’s highly-rated teenage midfielder Gedion Zelalem. The 18-year-old was in Glasgow yesterday to discuss a move, believed to be initially until January but with the possibility of remaining all season. Zelalem, who has dual American and German nationality, made his Gunners debut aged 16 in the FA Cup against Coventry in January 2014. Last December, he came on as a half-time sub in Turkey as Arsenal beat Galatasaray 4-1 in the Champions League group stages. Arsene Wenger believes the experience Zelalem would gain at Ibrox will stand him in good stead for his return to London. Zelalem would be the third player from an English Premier League club to join Rangers on loan this summer, following the arrivals of Spurs duo Dominic Ball and Nathan Oduwa.